Common Law LL.B. Program Requirements

In each of the second and third year, students must complete 30 credits, including two compulsory courses as well as a course satisfying the faculty's oral advocacy requirement and a course involving a significant piece of legal writing known as the major paper. The remaining credits are fulfilled on the basis of each student's choice from a list of optional courses.

The oral advocacy requirement

The oral advocacy requirement ensures that each student has had training and experience in making oral representations on behalf of a client in one of a range of settings. The requirement may be fulfilled in a variety of ways, including a basic moot court course where appellate advocacy skills are demonstrated and applied. Participation in moot court competitions with other law schools will also satisfy the oral advocacy requirement. Alternatively, intensive practical seminar courses in trial advocacy or interviewing, counselling and negotiation can satisfy this requirement. Student involvement in course work associated with the Community Legal Clinic is a further way to satisfy the oral advocacy requirement. In this context, students will have had specific responsibility for making representations, possibly including court appearances, in relation to designated client files.

The major paper requirement

The major paper requirement is designed to provide each student with an opportunity to demonstrate legal research and writing skills in the context of an extended piece of written analysis. Major papers, typically ranging in length from five thousand to ten thousand words, will either present an original thesis, reform proposal, or critique regarding a particular legal issue, or will synthesize cases, legislation and commentary in some field of law for the purpose of clarification or evaluation. The major paper will represent not less than 50 per cent of the grade assigned in the course for which it is written, and must be registered with the Academic Affairs Office of the faculty. See Major Paper Registratin Form and Major Paper Definition at: http://www.commonlaw.uottawa.ca/en/list/academics-affairs/forms/

Students in the English Common Law Program must satisfy the following requirements:

(a) CML2313 - Constitutional Law II must be completed by the end of second year.

(b) CML2309 - Civil Procedure I must be completed by the end of third year.

(c) Must complete Oral Advocacy requirement from at least one course below:

CML 2101 - Moot Court
CML 2320 - Mediation Theory and Practice
CML 2321 - Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes
CML 3120 - Moot Court Competition
CML 3121 - Gale Cup Moot
CML 3122 - Philip C. Jessup International Moot
CML 3123 - Laskin Moot
CML 3124 - Moncton-Ottawa Moot
CML 3125 - National Aboriginal Law Moot: Kawaskimhon “Speaking With Knowledge”
CML 3154 - Trial Advocacy
CML 3234 - Labour Law II
CML 3248 - Introduction to Community Clinic Law
CML 3313 - Interviewing, Counselling and Negotiation
CML 3366 - Family Conflicts Resolution: Collaborative Family Law
CML 3449 - Clinical Legal Aid II
CML 3450 - Clinical Legal Aid III
CML 4106C-D - Studies in Private Law: Negotiation
CML 4107A - Studies in Business Law: Corporate Immigration Advocacy
CML 4108D - Studies in International Law: Advocacy Before International Tribunals
CML 4111 - Criminal Justice Advocacy
CML 4111C-D - Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy
CML 4200-JB-JC - ADR Practicum

Please note that the moot courts listed above will not necessarily be offered each year. For more information, please see the Mooting section

(d) Major paper requirement must be satisfied either in second or third year.

(e) You must register in a minimum of 13 credits and a maximum of 17 credits per term (the Winter Term credits will incude the January Term credits).

(f) You must take a minimum of 30 credits each year. Note that the credits are not transferable to another year.

(g) You must obtain a minimum annual grade point average (A.G.P.A.) of 3.5 to successfully pass the year. See Regulation #16.03